GSK's Arexvy vaccine has received approval from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) to extend its indication for the prevention of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) disease to include adults aged 50-59 who are at increased risk. This regulatory expansion, announced by GSK, builds upon the vaccine's existing approval in Japan for adults aged 60 and over, granted in September 2023.
The decision is supported by data from a global Phase III clinical trial that demonstrated non-inferior immunogenicity in the 50-59 age group with increased risk factors, when compared to adults aged 60 and older. The trial also indicated that the safety and reactogenicity profiles in the younger at-risk population were consistent with those observed in the initial Phase III program involving older adults.
Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer at GSK, stated, "This approval reflects our ambition to protect people at increased risk from the severe consequences of RSV infection. Adults aged 50-59 with certain underlying medical conditions can face debilitating consequences from RSV, so we are pleased to offer those in Japan a vaccine for the first time."
The expansion aims to address the vulnerability of adults aged 50-59 with underlying medical conditions who are at increased risk of severe outcomes from RSV infection. By extending the availability of Arexvy, GSK hopes to mitigate the debilitating consequences faced by this population in Japan.
